Chapter 3 — Leaving England For West Africa

“Look down.” He pointed at the lights in the city. “The failure of a project that doesn't even occupy a pixel among these lights.” The panicked intern that year gradually became his most effective subordinate. Later, we discussed plans together on the rooftop, complained about customers, shared gossip... Until we became equal partners, we often came to this place on overtime nights. Lam Tham likes to lean on the railing, looking at the light from the office buildings in the distance. "Co Tuyet Dao, the speed of your progress makes me feel dangerous." I proudly looked at him and smiled. "Then Director Lam must try harder, don't let me pass." In my third year of work, I led a team to carry out a project but there was a problem with important data. The person in charge of the customer side pointed straight at me, scolded me for being unprofessional in front of the whole meeting room, and asked to cancel the cooperation. Lam Tham stood up to defend me: "General Director Vuong, I am the main person in charge of this project. All problems are my responsibility. Co Tuyet Dao's data has been checked and approved by me for the last time. If you want to scold me, scold me." He took all the criticism, and after the meeting even proactively suggested reducing the management fee as compensation. After the customer left, I stood in the empty meeting room, looking at Lam Tham's back packing up documents, my throat choked. From that moment on, we began to frantically pursue Lam Tham. Half a year later, we were officially together. I stood on the terrace enjoying the breeze, quietly looking at the city. The phone vibrates. Mom called me. "Dao Dao, your father is hospitalized. The doctor said it could be a tumor, he needs surgery right away. The deposit is one hundred thousand yuan..." She cried without a sound. "Can you lend me some money in advance? Your younger brother is still in school, I really have no choice..." My throat was tight. The relationship between me and my father has always been bad. He was an alcoholic, a gambler, and had divorced his mother since I was in middle school. But blood ties cannot be severed. "How much do you need?" "Prepare one hundred and fifty thousand yuan for now. You may need more later..." After hanging up the phone, I leaned against the railing, feeling like all the strength in my body had been drained. During my working years, I also had savings, but two years ago I just bought a house and had to pay the debt every month. If I pooled all my working capital, I could have about a hundred thousand yuan. Still fifty thousand short. I flipped through my contacts and called Lam Tham three times, but he didn't pick up the phone. After we fell in love, I transferred ten thousand yuan to him almost every month. He lives in my house, spending almost nothing. Unable to call him, I called a few friends and collected thirty thousand. Still missing twenty thousand. Late at night, returning to the apartment, I received a text message from Chau Nhiem. She didn't send it to me directly, but posted a post on her personal page that only I could see. In the photo is Lam Tham's desk. On the table sat an exquisite velvet box, inside was a diamond bracelet. The status line reads: [Oh my god! I really met a fairy guide. Mr. Tham said I performed extremely well in the past three months, this is a reward for me, also my best birthday gift! So happy and cheerful, I will definitely try harder in the future!] The location shown is Lam Tham's apartment. Posted time was an hour ago. I stared at that post, my stomach churning. That bracelet cost more than twenty thousand yuan, almost equal to one month's salary. Finally, I opened my mouth to Luong Mong

Dinh. Without saying a word, she immediately transferred me twenty thousand yuan. "There's no need to rush. When you have extra money, pay it back. Sisters, there's no need to be polite." The next afternoon, Lam Tham called back. "What happened last night? I was helping Chau Nhiem with the summary of her first project, so I put the phone on silent mode." I looked at the scan of my father's medical record on the computer screen, trying to swallow the choking rising in my throat. down. "Is the bracelet given to an intern expensive?" Lam Tham was silent for a few seconds. "Are you thinking too much again? I know you've been under a lot of pressure lately, but to be honest, is it just an incentive reward for an intern that you care so much about?" "You and Chau Nhiem are just a normal teacher-student relationship. The first project she was in charge of independently was completed, I'm the instructor so I gave you an incentive gift. What's the problem with this?" Encouragement is fine. It's okay to give gifts. But staying in a private apartment in the middle of the night to give gifts is not okay. I hung up the phone directly. "Have you canceled the transfer request yet?" "It has nothing to do with you." I didn't want to tell him that I had confirmed to go to West Africa. Lam Tham sent a speechless symbol.